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Two arrested after road rage results in gunfire

Jason Aitchison, 30, of Fort Myers, and Brandon Nelson, 23, of Rotonda West were both arrested in the wake of a Tuesday roadside argument that ended in gunfire.

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By SHANNON McFARLAND

Published: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 5:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 9:26 p.m.

SARASOTA COUNTY - One driver pulled a shotgun from the trunk of his car, pumping the slide. The other driver pulled out a short pistol-grip shotgun, authorities say. What started as a roadside argument Tuesday turned into a car chase with weapons drawn and ended with birdshot blasting through a car window, the pellets and glass striking the driver and a passenger.

By Friday night, both drivers had been arrested after the fit of road rage erupted into gunfire.

The incident began just after 4 p.m. Tuesday in southern Sarasota County. The two drivers were traveling south on U.S. 41 near River Road when they got into an argument over driving behavior, deputies say.

Brandon Nelson, 23, of Rotonda West pulled over, exiting his Mercury, as a 17-year-old passenger stayed in the car. Jason Aitchison, 30, of Fort Myers, pulled his Geo Tracker to the side of the road and exited it, as the two yelled at each other.

Nelson pulled a Mossberg pump action shotgun from his trunk, he admitted in an interview with detectives the next day. Pulling the slide, he cycled the pump-action as he argued with Aitchison.

After seeing the shotgun, Aitchison, who is retired from the military, retreated to his SUV. He pulled out a pistol-grip, single-shot short shotgun loaded with birdshot, according to his arrest report.

Nelson turned, tossed his shotgun back in the trunk and tried to get back in his car to drive away. Aitchison approached the driver's side, detectives say, and pointed the gun at Nelson, tapping on the glass of the window.

Nelson drove off down U.S. 41.

Aitchison returned to his SUV and took off after Nelson, chasing him south down U.S. 41, detectives say.

Two miles down the road, near U.S. 41 and El Prado Avenue in front of La Casa Mobile Home Park, Aitchison caught up to Nelson. After pulling along the passenger side of Nelson's Mercury, detectives say Aitchison fired birdshot through the rear passenger window. The blast left a hole in the window, glass and pellets flew into the car and hit Nelson and his 17-year-old passenger in the head and face.

Aitchison then made a U-turn on U.S. 41 and drove off, detectives say.

Nelson called 911 as he drove to the Lowe's parking lot. North Port Police met him and his passenger and they were taken to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital emergency center in North Port, where they initially claimed that Aitchison had pulled a gun first during a verbal altercation.

About six hours later, Aitchison called 911 and gave deputies his location, turning himself in, according to reports. After interviewing him, deputies determined Aitchison should be taken into protective custody and evaluated for mental health under the Baker Act.

Thursday, he was charged and booked into the Sarasota County jail, where he was held on $22,500 bail.

Detectives say Nelson's action prompted Aitchison to “legitimately arm himself” in response, but the threat passed after Nelson drove off. For pursuing and firing at the car, Aitchison is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, shooting into a vehicle and discharging a firearm in public.

Nelson was arrested Friday evening and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

<p><em>SARASOTA COUNTY</em> - One driver pulled a shotgun from the trunk of his car, pumping the slide. The other driver pulled out a short pistol-grip shotgun, authorities say. What started as a roadside argument Tuesday turned into a car chase with weapons drawn and ended with birdshot blasting through a car window, the pellets and glass striking the driver and a passenger.</p><p>By Friday night, both drivers had been arrested after the fit of road rage erupted into gunfire.</p><p>The incident began just after 4 p.m. Tuesday in southern Sarasota County. The two drivers were traveling south on U.S. 41 near River Road when they got into an argument over driving behavior, deputies say.</p><p>Brandon Nelson, 23, of Rotonda West pulled over, exiting his Mercury, as a 17-year-old passenger stayed in the car. Jason Aitchison, 30, of Fort Myers, pulled his Geo Tracker to the side of the road and exited it, as the two yelled at each other.</p><p>Nelson pulled a Mossberg pump action shotgun from his trunk, he admitted in an interview with detectives the next day. Pulling the slide, he cycled the pump-action as he argued with Aitchison.</p><p>After seeing the shotgun, Aitchison, who is retired from the military, retreated to his SUV. He pulled out a pistol-grip, single-shot short shotgun loaded with birdshot, according to his arrest report.</p><p>Nelson turned, tossed his shotgun back in the trunk and tried to get back in his car to drive away. Aitchison approached the driver's side, detectives say, and pointed the gun at Nelson, tapping on the glass of the window.</p><p>Nelson drove off down U.S. 41.</p><p>Aitchison returned to his SUV and took off after Nelson, chasing him south down U.S. 41, detectives say. </p><p>Two miles down the road, near U.S. 41 and El Prado Avenue in front of La Casa Mobile Home Park, Aitchison caught up to Nelson. After pulling along the passenger side of Nelson's Mercury, detectives say Aitchison fired birdshot through the rear passenger window. The blast left a hole in the window, glass and pellets flew into the car and hit Nelson and his 17-year-old passenger in the head and face. </p><p>Aitchison then made a U-turn on U.S. 41 and drove off, detectives say. </p><p>Nelson called 911 as he drove to the Lowe's parking lot. North Port Police met him and his passenger and they were taken to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital emergency center in North Port, where they initially claimed that Aitchison had pulled a gun first during a verbal altercation.</p><p>About six hours later, Aitchison called 911 and gave deputies his location, turning himself in, according to reports. After interviewing him, deputies determined Aitchison should be taken into protective custody and evaluated for mental health under the Baker Act.</p><p>Thursday, he was charged and booked into the Sarasota County jail, where he was held on $22,500 bail.</p><p>Detectives say Nelson's action prompted Aitchison to “legitimately arm himself” in response, but the threat passed after Nelson drove off. For pursuing and firing at the car, Aitchison is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, shooting into a vehicle and discharging a firearm in public. </p><p>Nelson was arrested Friday evening and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.</p>